In this article, I’ll guide you through the best typical dishes to try in Trastevere and recommend the spots where you can enjoy them.
All contemporary Romans know that Trastevere is one of the top foodie neighborhoods in Rome. Locals visit Trastevere mostly around lunchtime or dinner. The city’s most famous food tours take place in this area and enjoy a reputation for being incredibly satisfying.
Read on, and you are ready to confidently improvise your own food tour in Trastevere, all on your own.
8 Typical foods to eat in Trastevere
1. Pasta
For someone like me, born and raised in Rome, eating in Trastevere means having a delicious plate of typical Roman pasta. I always prefer homemade pasta, like the “tonnarello” served at Osteria Nannarella, right in the heart of the neighborhood.
Tonnarello, cut with a special tool called a “chitarra,” looks similar to spaghetti but has its own unique texture. At this osteria, you can pair the pasta with traditional Roman sauces:
- Cacio e pepe (with pecorino cheese and black pepper)
- Carbonara (with guanciale and egg)
- Amatriciana (with guanciale and tomato sauce)
- And their house specialty, Tonnarello Nannarella, featuring eggplants, capers, olives, and cherry tomatoe
2. Fried Delights
Many travelers don’t realize how much we locals adore fried foods—delicious bites that often double as street food. In Rome, two fried treats stand out:
- Supplì
Locals often pair supplì with pizza, but it’s equally delightful on its own. (You’ll love it so much, you’ll want seconds!) This crispy snack combines a small cylinder of rice, flavored with tomato sauce and stuffed with mozzarella, coated in breadcrumbs, and fried in hot oil. Supplì Roma, at Via di San Francesco a Ripa, 137, serves some of the best in the area. - Fiore di zucca
To make this treat, chefs take a fresh zucchini flower, stuff it with mozzarella and a fillet of anchovy, dip it in batter, and fry it to perfection. Enzo al 29, a restaurant on Via dei Vascellari, 29, makes one of the best versions in the city, using organic mozzarella.
3. Pizza
You probably know how Italians love to eat pizza: seated at a table, one pizza per person, and with Naples considered the pizza capital of the world. In Rome, though, things are a bit different. Romans, of course, think their pizza is the best—it’s thinner than Neapolitan pizza, slightly crisp, and large.
The pizzerias in Trastevere—restaurants specializing in pizza (and fried foods)—rank among the best in the city. I recommend:
- Pizzeria ai Marmi: Viale di Trastevere, 53
- Dar Poeta: Vicolo dei Bologna, 45
4. Pizza al Taglio
If a full pizza feels like too much, you can opt for pizza al taglio instead. Technically, we call it “pizza al peso.” These shops feature counters filled with large trays of pizza in various toppings, and you can choose a piece as big or small as you like.
Toppings include classic options like margherita, mushrooms, sausage, ham and mozzarella, or potatoes and mozzarella. For a guaranteed hit, try Pizzeria La Boccaccia, Via di Santa Dorotea, 2.
5. Gelato
Here’s a classic Roman treat that needs no introduction! Gelateria Fiordiluna, located at Viale della Lungaretta, 96, serves Trastevere’s best gelato—artisanal and free from artificial colors.
6. Trapizzino
When I first discovered Trapizzino, I couldn’t believe it: there was still something new to add to the rich local street food scene! About 15 years ago, a local pizza maker came up with the idea of filling pockets of pizza bread with traditional Roman dishes.
This creation lets you enjoy dishes you’d typically order at an osteria as street food, all tucked inside a fragrant, freshly baked corner of pizza bread. You can try this delight at Piazza Trilussa, 46.
7. Saltimbocca
You might know that I’m a vegetarian, but I wasn’t always. I used to eat meat, and I grew up loving saltimbocca, the most delicious meat dish in Roman cuisine. Its name translates to “jump into your mouth.” Chefs prepare this dish by slow-cooking veal cutlets in a pan with olive oil, butter, and flour, then topping them with a slice of prosciutto and sage leaves.
8. Tagliere
The tagliere, a platter that includes tastings of cured meats, cheeses, bruschetta, and vegetables (depending on the restaurant), serves two purposes. It can open the meal as an appetizer or accompany a drink as part of an aperitivo.
In Trastevere, I recommend the tagliere aperitivo at Prosciutteria Cantina dei Papi, in Via della Scala 71, where you’ll also find an excellent selection of wines.
Conclusion
Now you know the main reason why I, a true Roman, visit the Trastevere neighborhood: the food. The jovial atmosphere also attracts me there, in that area just outside the historic center, a stone’s throw from the river, rich in fascinating architectural views.
Being the city’s most popular foodie neighborhood, Trastevere is teeming with restaurants, wine bars, and more. This guide will help you navigate the neighborhood’s food scene and satisfy your cravings for local cuisine, leaving you satisfied and knowing you’re visiting authentic places.
